Organic Farming

[sharmiladevi 0]

When technologies like test tube meat are growing on one side, the other set of highly educated people started thinking about the natural way of farming, which is really encouraging. Recently I came to know about this organic farming through one of my friends. This farming can be done in following ways using vermicompost fertilizers utilizing various species of worms, it actually contains water soluble nutrients and is a good nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. Then naturally available manures, green leaf manures, crop rotation, biofertilizers and animal husbandry. It strictly limits the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, plant growth regulators and genetically modified plants. The organic farming is now being widely followed in many nations these days. It works in an eco-friendly way. This method is not something new, it’s our ancient practice. When same work is done by two different set of people, the uneducated and educated people, the work done by later gets more appreciations and encouragement. Recently, I have also read that the Indian Army has taken initiative to promote organic farming through which retired jawans and officers gets new opportunity to continue their service for humanity. Let us also try to participate and encourage these types of practices to make our world go green and chemical free.

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[ritu 1]

That sounds pretty healthy! In addition to the retired army persons, the civilians should be made well aware of the benefits of organic farming. As they get educated, they will be able to make sure to buy products which have been produced by organic farming and for this to happen further smoothly, the farmers have to be provided with training and support financially and technically. I really hope that an economy which is constituted majorly by the agricultural sector, manages to receive profits of the same magnitude of its contribution.

[Quatrux 4]

I agree, that it sound healthy and I think it's much more expensive? that's why all those chemicals are used, to bring bigger profit with less work and less investment? Food quality is getting worse, but also it depends on what people buy, if all people buy cheap things, they will be produced, if one day everyone would start buying healthy food and some control by law and etc. would be available, those farmers and other organizations would produce healthy food. I mean, they do what people demand, but they still want profit.

[sheepdog 10]

The problem lies in part with the difficulties and the expenses of "organic" farming, and convincing the consumer that it is worth the added expense. It is all so very true, if products are labeled organic, they tend to fetch a higher price. And not everyone is willing to pay the extra expense. In some cases, they are correct in that it is a waste of money. Being raised organicly does not nessesarily improve the nutrional quality of the food. There are numerous studies where lab testing has proven there is no difference. But lets look at this from a different angle. Why is organic more expensive? After all, you are saving money by not applying chemical pesticides and fertilizers right? Fact is, organic pest control practices are not as effective as chemical ones. You are going to loose a higher percentage of your crops to insects, blight, fungus, etc. And just because an insecticide is labeled safe for organic use, that doesn't mean it is actually any safer than a chemical product. Poison is poison, wether it comes from a poisonous plant or a test tube. Crop yields too are traditionally lower in organic agriculture. And when you are paying a high cost for property taxes on your land, it needs to be able to produce to the fullest extent it can. Not only taxes, if you are paying interest on your farm loan, or the equipment needed to farm, you need all you can get. Anyone priced a new tractor or combine lately? It will scare you! I am amazed every time we drive through the farm lands of California. Those farm yards look more like farm equipment sales yards here. They literally have millions of dollars worth of specialty equipment setting all over the place. However, crop loss aside, organic farming and organicly produced vegtables are not really that much more costly to produce. A lot of the problem is media hype, telling us we should pay more for "better" food. Many small scale farmers jump on the band wagon selling at co-ops and farmers markets. Not only are they cutting out the middle man, they are getting by far a higher price per pound than their large scale farmer conterparts. People who grow the produce andsell directly should be able to sell for a better price, but they don't.